Chapter One -- Would you like to have dinner with me?

Louis Bordeaux's Point of View

I was born in 1576, and I have been stuck in this reincarnation struggle for the past four hundred and forty eight years. This is my thirteenth life, and I could spend it desperately trying to find a cure to my curse, like I have always done, but oddly, I don't want to do that, I just want to live a simple life, have a career, fall in love with art and a beautiful woman, have a family and die peacefully.

I will find a cure in my next life, but for now, I just want to exist, without to curse weighing deeply on me. I walk out of my apartment and bump into my neighbour.

"Hi, Bob." I smile and he grins as he walks into his apartment "Hi, Louis. Heading to the school?" He asks and I nod "Yeah, I am, have a nice day."

I walk down the stairs and head to my car, I work at Columbia University, teaching Art History and Archaeology, of course, because I have lived for so long and mostly have a first hand experience with most of the arts and ancient knowledge. The drive from Queens to Columbia University is less than twenty minutes, I walk into the class and start teaching.

__

"I swear, it was like, crazy. I could not believe I was getting hit on by a Sophomore, it was disgusting." I hear as I walk into the crowded coffee house, languages have changed in past four hundred years.

This is a coffee house I have gone to since I moved to New York, I pull out my books and get started on working. Perhaps, it is weird, but I thrive better in chaos, and the constant noise here makes me get some work done.

"Hi. I'm sorry to disturb you, but is that 'A Vindication of the Rights of Women' by Mary Wollstonecraft?" I hear and I look up to see a woman staring down at me, and I blink, rendered speechless "Wh - what?" I stammer and she smiles "Your book." She gestures to one of the books stacked on the table and I realize she is Human.

This is a world where Witches, and Werewolves can exist freely with Humans, and it is refreshing from all the timelines I have lived in, supernatural creatures were haunted and killed, witches were burnt at stake, which were mostly women, so it is not witches who burned, but women, and Werewolves have been stigmatized against and hunted. New York is a big city, flowing with humans, witches and werewolves, and despite the age and time, some humans still hate supernatural beings.

"Hi, yes, this is it." I say, a bit incoherent and look at the book, I got it when it came out. "This is a first edition, published in 1793, how do you have it? You must have paid a lot of money for it." She smiles at me, and I melt, a smile so bright and untainted is rare.

"1792, actually, and I have a lot of old books." I smile and she nods, then frowns "How?" 

How, in deed - well, I was alive then, in a different city and time, but I obviously can't say that, so I nod and lie "I have a plug." It is only a half lie, of course.

"Wow." She beams and I take the book and extend it to her "You can read it if you want, and return it when you are done." I suggest and she flush, hard, as red as a tomato and I stare at her, amused.

"I can't, I don't even know you. Can I sit with you, while I read it? The Coffee house is crowded, but I don't want to impose, so I can just leave." She rambles, embarrassed, and I get up and help her pull out the chair opposite me. "You can read it." I agree and she sits.

Trying not to blatantly stare at her, I pretend to read a book, but I find it quite hard not to stare at her, she is stunning. She has freckles, long lashes and curly black hair, her eyes are bright green, the most beautiful shade ever, she is dressed elegantly, just so beautiful.

"I'm Colette June Emerson, by the way." She whispers, with a warm smile and I realize she caught me staring "I'm Louis Bordeaux." I say and she smiles "What an ancient name." "You'd be surprised." I murmur and turn my attention back to the book I was definitely not reading.

We spend the next hour and the half in each other's company, saying next to nothing and I have never felt so at ease, and when she leaves, her absence is noticeable. I return to the Coffee House the next day, hoping I will see her, and I do, this time, I bring another book she might like, and so a routine begins.

It is definitely not a date, but a friendship. I enjoy the times we spend together and for the next week, I continue in my routine, she looks amazing every time and I always want to ask her questions about herself, but I don't want to mess it up, so I say nothing, making sure her coffee order and a book is waiting for her and it is always the best part of my day, until it is not enough.

"How do you have a book published in 1601?" She frowns at me and I look at her, with a big, shameless grin "A magician never reveals his secret."

She smiles, and says nothing, this is usually the time she leaves, and I really want to ask her out, but I carry so much with me, and I don't think I will ever be able to trust anyone and tell them the truth, but she is just so beautiful and I want to know more.

"Would you like to have dinner with me?" I blurt and she stares at me, eyes wide and I can just feel the rejection coming before she speaks.